60% of music-loving youth risk hearing harm

Up to 60% of young people in Ireland are listening to music at dangerously loud levels according to a study.

The initial findings of a national survey, Keep the Sound, being carried out by DeafHear.ie in schools around the country, showed six out of 10 students tested are using their devices at levels likely to cause long-term damage to their hearing.

The survey indicates that as many as 60% of schoolgoers are listening to music at volumes over 91dB with one in four playing their devices at extremely dangerous levels — over 100dB.